more than a migraine?

[james347]

Over the past few years, I have been getting terrible headaches on the left side of my head right behind my eye.  I can feel these headaches start when my left eye gets really dry and uncomfortable (I do wear contacts).  The headaches throb and are horribly painful and can take anywhere from hours and a couple of days to get better.  Normally, just rest, wearing my glasses instead of contacts and some tylenol takes care of it.  I typically get them every couple of months.  I never get nasaus or light sensitive, though.

I went to the doctor today for the flu, but I asked about these headaches since they have been happening for a few years.  She said it sounded like a migraine.  She checked my eyes, ears, had me make some faces (huge smiles, grimaces, furrow my eyebrows) and pushed down on my shoulders and made me shrugg.  With all this, she said she thinks that they are mirgraines.

I was feeling good about this but when I went online to do some research on migraines today, one "red-flag" symptom began to scare me.  I read that headaches that worsen when straining to use the bathroom can be a major symptom of a brain tumor.  When I do have one of these headaches, and bend over and strain to use the bathroom, it does begin to throb worse and more intensely.  I always just dismissed this as something that would naturally happen since my head already hurt, but now I am very worried and scared now that maybe these are more than just headaches.  I did have an mri done about 7 months ago during an er visit (for adverse side-effects to a medication) and was told that I was fine.  But I'm a little worried that maybe they missed something.

Can a worsening headache when straing to use the bathroom always be symptom of a brain tumor?  Is this something that I need to be worried about?

[dlinsenmann]

It sounds a lot like cluster headaches. Since they start at the same place every time. Do they start at the same time everyday? A good website to find info on it is
www.clusterheadaches.com

and dont forget to ask your doctor about it.

[Beth E.]

Hi James,
I am an expert on migraines, sad to say. I have had them for nearly 30 years. I never had only one kind as you do, but they were excruciating! I took Imitrex 100 mg. daily for years (getting this med. was my weekly task.) I saw many neurologists and was in the ER more times than I can count. I tried every preventative med in the book and one finally worked for me... a beta blocker (Inderal). All this to say I eventually ended up getting a spinal tap checking for MS when they discovered that I have what is called a pseudotumor. It's where the spinal fluid in your body is built up and putting pressure on different areas of your brain. If you are very concerned about tumors and not getting results from meds... find a neurosurgeon who will consider your doubts and begin with a MRI. As Julie Andrews would say "When you read you begin with ABC when its your head you begin with MRI." I hope you get better soon! Take care!!

[Beth E.]

Hi James,
I am an expert on migraines, sad to say. I have had them for nearly 30 years. I never had only one kind as you do, but they were excruciating! I took Imitrex 100 mg. daily for years (getting this med. was my weekly task.) I saw many neurologists and was in the ER more times than I can count. I tried every preventative med in the book and one finally worked for me... a beta blocker (Inderal). All this to say I eventually ended up getting a spinal tap checking for MS when they discovered that I have what is called a pseudotumor. It's where the spinal fluid in your body is built up and putting pressure on different areas of your brain. If you are very concerned about tumors and not getting results from meds... find a neurosurgeon who will consider your doubts and begin with a MRI. As Julie Andrews would say "When you read you begin with ABC when its your head you begin with MRI." I hope you get better soon! Take care!!